Ethical Interaction in Cyberspace for Social Work Practice

Stephen M. Marson, Sara B. Brackin

Abstract

The nature of ethics on the Internet may be confusing to some social workers because of the unique characteristics of client contacts in cyberspace. This article addresses three basic issues/questions that clarify the ethical relationships among clients, other professionals and the Internet. These include: a) What must I do to maintain professional ethical standards on the Internet? b) How do I deal with the unethical interaction of others within cyberspace? c) How do I examine and analyze ethical issues with no clear guidelines?